RP:A Bloody Mess Of Things

Part of the Dragging the Dragon Arc

Summary: Scandal is waiting for Lanara outside the relic museum, and both are pleased to reunite, as it has been six weeks since their last encounter. The dragon is no longer a child, and he's starting to visibly age, even when in his anthro form. Using the research from the Adventurer's Guild, Lana discovers the next item they need to enchant the shape shifting talisman can only be found in Vailkrin, the city of the undead. The plan is to slip into the graveyard, hopefully unnoticed, distract those in the market, and drain the blood fountain, so they can gather the needed ingredient. The petals of a blood lotus. The next morning they begin their journey, using a glamour spell to make them appear to be vampires so they can go mostly undetected. What could possibly go wrong?!

It had almost a month since Scandal had last seen Lanara his sister, he doubted she would recognize him. He hardly recognized himself anymore. One day he had simply gave up trying to settle for particular looks and simply allowed his body to shapeshift into a form for when he desired to interact with humans and the like. In addition to this his healthy eating habits, his daily workouts and a variety tasks he had applied himself to, ignoring his hoard money and working for everything had done the dragon some surprising good, and yet in some ways this true anthro form his body chose for him, seemed to indicate that he was no longer just a teen, rather he was nearing adulthood, and his features had begun to become more prominent. By now he was intimidating standing at 10’ tall leaning up against the museum wall, his arms crossed, both of which sported ridges along the back biceps, his claw like hands had become large and his scales had begun to have a shiny black polish to them. His shoulders now bore natural ridges, and back bore them as well, red in color, and his underbelly mostly hidden by dark gray short sleeve t-shirt. Bearing upon his legs he wore dark colored pants. Alone the visible part of the underside of his neck was dark red, and his eyes no longer bore the same soft red, rather they bore the marks of beast, as if an eternal fire burned within them, foreshadowing an abyss filled with power, and determination. Even some of his teeth were prominent amongst his jaws. It was as if Scandal had swallowed an essence of intimidation. His tail stirred behind him as did his large wings black on their backs and red on their insides, he held them against his body allowing them to open and to close, as if stretching them. His arms were crossed and held against his chest, standing like a bouncer at a club, yet looming casting a shadow as dark and terrifying as the stuff of nightmares. Much had changed Scandal in the past month, and more still had changed him, since he awoke the first time, now, he was becoming a true blend of black and red dragon, each feature being molded into an aspect of what he was. Already his presence had terrified those who did not know him, and as had his voice, which developed a dark undertone, riddle with roughness of dragon speech. He was more sure of himself, more confident, and yet for those that were family no matter his appearance he was still in many ways the same Scandal that they knew and loved. For now though he leaned turning his head, his eyes alert and at watch, never knowing when the Gods would send him his next meal, they always seemed to send him something he could handle, and he relied on them to send it, but for now he managed to keep an eye out for his sister, for that was more important to him, than a meal, for he had eaten only six hours ago, and despite his size, magically speaking his larger form was still digesting from that meal. Sated he watched the road, and the door, not sure from where his sister would emerge, but he knew she would come here at some point, namely because he knew not where she lodged presently since she sold her cottage. “I fear Arkhen I am becoming used to this nonstop action you and the others grant to me, for I am otherwise unable to keep my attention at ease.”

Lanara strolls along the path and approaches the double doors that lead to the museum, her hand reaching to grab the door knob, though she pauses as there’s a large dragon to the left. He’s standing much like a bouncer, and she can’t help but notice the predator-like way he’s watching the street. Was he here to make trouble for her Guild? Lana hesitates, her fingertips dropping from the handle as she quirks a brow. “Can I help you with something? Are you waiting for a tour of the museum?” The witch wasn’t taking any chances, and her hand falls to the dagger at her side, before she takes in the coloring of the male. Black and red. The only dragon in the lands that she knew of with those colors was her brother… Scandal. Had he changed that much in such a little time spent apart? Lana clears her throat, cutting him off, if he were to begin answering her earlier inquiries, “Scandal!?”

Scandal's eyes lifted towards the figure of the woman who walked up the path towards the museum. Her movement, her posture, every aspect of her from the carefree attitude seemed to be motion in her step, she was one of those that were blessed with the looks that could turn men into puppies, and follow her around sometimes without her realizing it. Fortunately for Scandal he has shifted out of that phase already, now he saw only his sister. He waited for her turning his gaze at her, and for a moment if one looked too deep into those fiery eyes it seemed as if they would swallow one whole. But then as he listened to her, first asking if he wanted help and then, asking if he wanted a tour of museum, he realized she actually didn't know who he was. He thought to himself, she doesn't recognize me. He watched her reach for dagger, but then he watches her look at him again, as if she were trying to think through what she was seeing, He heard her say his name, and his eyes well they didn't physically change, but there was a different feeling one could draw from them, that kind of protective family bond, that love that goes beyond appearance. His voice like always was low, but it had changed in some ways, it was little less rich, more like steel being scratched against a stone. "Hello sis." His features made it near impossible for him now to express himself, with a facial smile, it had been difficult before, but now it seemed much more close to impossible. "Sorry for the change, I needed something get down in size, and a fellow dragon recommended that I stop trying to control what I want, and let my body handle how I would look in this form. It was easier, less pain, Painful still, it always is, but it was less so. Very likely this how I am supposed to look." Most of his features did align with combinations seen in black and red dragons, but they weren't fully developed but very close to being so, it was likely that Scandal in the past had been miss guessing his age range, of preteen dragon, with smoother softer more child like features, when in reality he was very much a late teen, or practically young adult. "You’re looking pleasant, since I saw you last, is it a new boyfriend?" his jaw opening slightly revealing hidden inner teeth along his jaws, that were hidden by the flesh of his mouth and outer more tougher teeth, for snipping off chunks of meat, rather than tearing. The flesh of his mouth still that shiny cyan proving without a doubt it had to be Scandal, he was likely the only dragon with blue flesh on the inside of his body. Especially for someone who knew what the inside of his body looked, even if that was a memory that Scandal repressed, and was pretty sure she did too. He had swallowed her once to save her from a couple hungry dragons, course the timing had been off and there had been no explanation up until that point regarding what to do in a situation like that, Lana's response ought to have been expected, but Scandal had failed to see that, and that had left both of them feeling quite bad. He shut his mouth quick, seeing it again like that no doubt stirred up bad memories, and it was best not to dwell on that in the past. May the pantheon of Gods above and beneath forbid such an event from happening again, as it had, that was his prayer, he didn't want to ruin any more fond memories with his sister especially since they were so close to formal adoption, that was something he couldn't afford to lose, His sisters were his life, and they were the only family he had, their offer had made him feel almost ecstatic with joy, it was something in the mornings that kept him from the depression of his age and of his predicaments, and of his own pain with his shapeshifting, Losing that would likely drive him to depression, and he doubted he would recover, so he had made it his interest to try stay on his sisters good sides. "Where to sis, where is the next part of the puzzle?"

Lanara is relieved that her suspicions were correct, and that it is her brother standing before the Adventurer’s Guild Museum. For a brief second, she wasn’t so sure, and now that she’s certain of his identity, she walks over to pull him into a brief hug. Her fingers glide over his scales, and she’s so tiny that she easily fits within his arms, though she doesn’t linger in the embrace as she normally would. Pulling back so that she could get a long look at him, she takes in his markings of crimson and ebony, the wings held against his back, the height that was nearly double her own, and the definition of his muscles. Was he maturing? Lana didn’t know every last detail about the aging of dragons, though she knew that Scandal suffered severely with trying to maintain his size, and during his shifting. “You look amazing, brother! You’re… Almost an adult now, I take it?” She was an expert on animals, though the fact that he was a humanoid was a bit lost on her elven mentality. Still, she finds this newer version of the male appealing, and she’d bet her last gold that every female draconian and dragon in a hundred mile radius would be lining up for a chance to date her soon-to-be adopted brother. “How are you doing? I have been so busy with guild preparations, filling out the forms for your official adoption to be the sibling of Taly and I, as well as throwing myself into work at the sanctuary!” She doesn’t mention that she had been enslaved by a drug lord, then had to work off her freedom with Tiber. Nor does she mention that opening of her drow friends shop, and how she had clotheslined Talyara, and then been asked to leave. However, as he asks about her love life, a faint redness appears in her high cheekbones, and she instantly thinks of the new mess she’d gotten into. Being hunted by a group of powerful assassins, and earning the rumor of being in cahoots with Elioyahazer. The man preferred his identity to be kept a secret, they weren’t ‘official’ just yet, and she was taking things slow. “Uh, nope, I’m not exactly spoken for, but there is someone that has struck my fancy. What about you, Scandal? Breaking any hearts, these days?” Lana would open the door to the museum, nodding for him to step inside, as she hears his final inquiry. “Vailkrin. Come in, I’ll show you the map of our next quest. We’re more than half way there now, to enchanting that amulet!” Once inside, they’d pass through the museum exhibits, and she’d usher him into a small office. A bin would be opened, a folder plucked from the top, and she’d set the paperwork out before him, atop the wooden desk. Once the dragon’s eyes dropped to the parchment, he’d see a map of Vailkrin, with a particular area circled three times, in red ink. The ‘blood fountain’, to be exact. However, traversing through the land of undead, and heading to an area where they kept their fresh kills, and were drawn into a bloody frenzy? It would be far from easy.

Scandal graughed in delight, which was odd it was kind of like a combination of laugh and growl, as he briefly embraced his sister kneeling a bit so that the way in which she hugged him wasn't awkward, Since she was half his size. As she pulled away, and got a better look at him. "Well, to be fair, I was 50 before I slept, so rapid maturing is not a new thing, when you came from Uldenbraug, but I feel older, another dragon told me I should just let my body appear as it wants to appear when I think humanoid, I think I often imagined myself younger than I was. Physically speaking, not in numbers." He listened to her next question. "I have been working, for pay and for meals, and out." He said letting slip how he was beginning to look more muscular, if anything he looked good now and hadn't changed himself to look this way, it’s very likely that his dragon form was a whole lot more brutally ripped as well. "I assume that if anything were wrong you would tell me, but I am happy to know everything has gone well," He paused and cracked his jaw a bit, "Well no, not love really, I mean I popped into a tavern and well paid for some 'services'. That was a low point. I try to avoid Talyebeck these days now." Walking into the museum with her he was happy for the high ceilings he had asked for, passing underneath them with little or no stooping, If not to ones amazement his steps made not a sound or vibration, obviously something either passive magic at work or biology was making what ought to have been a very dense and heavy being as if he wasn't even there. "Ah yes, Halfway at long last, Gods and Goddesses above I hope I don't foul this one up like did my last two." He shook his head, as he approached the desk. He looked down and moved one hand to reposition the map he saw. He clenched his jaw in an odd way, where the corners of his mouth were exposed while the pressure at the front of the mouth was sealed. "The Blood Fountain. Oh boy, lot of vampires, undead, and lycans to cut through to get that prize, I doubt Lord Shenorath, would allow us to get close, especially since the slave market will be open tomorrow." He remembered those voices at the temple, 'Slay Lord Shenorath, his cruelty will no long go unpunished, all are in agreement' He looked at Lana, "How good are you at passing yourself off as a vampire, or a lycan, we'd have a better chance of getting in there, if we aren't among the living and I don't resemble in any way a red dragon." He didn't want to go with option B. "It’s better than Option B or C. Plan C, we go as we are."

Lanara smiles and nods, “Brother, keep up the good work. You seem happy, and you look healthy…” As they pour over the map, her smile fades, as he mentions that he had lowered himself to seeking the services of a prostitute in the frog-folk area. “Um…” Well, truth be told, Scandal is a dragon, so the amphibian lust was right up his alley, but she still frowns. “You need to be careful. Those folks are known for carrying loads of diseases. Genital warts, facial sores, bumps from here to Rynvale all over your body…” She’s referring to a modern day version of herpes, of course. “Maybe you should visit the hobbit’s next time, before you, uh, use them again. They sell a form of protection made from parts of sheep.” Nothing further is said about her brother’s indiscretions, and she doesn’t even judge him for giving into his manly needs. He wasn’t a child, he was single, and everyone makes a bad choice every now and then. She just wanted him to look after his health and take precautions. Lana blinks as he mentions lycan’s, and she gives a quick shake of her head. “No. I don’t think there will be any lycan’s in this area… I know for sure that there will be loads of undead. Vampires, zombies, perhaps even some ghost-like spirits roaming. It doesn’t help that we have to go through a graveyard, and from what I’m told, the bodies weren’t buried with respect, and it’s considered unholy ground.” She sighs, heavily, as she was quite familiar with spirits, curses, and all of that jazz. The mention of Shenorath is met with a quizzical glare. She didn’t know of this person, but if the market was open, maybe that would work in their favor. “Perfect! We’ll go when the market is busiest. Perhaps, it can provide a distraction? Plus, it’s during the middle of the day. So we won’t have to deal with the undead until our return trip. If we can drain the blood fountain, retrieve three blood lotuses, and manage to blend in until dusk, I think we stand a chance.” She pauses. “Scandal. Can you meet me in front of the Kelay Tavern, tomorrow morning, at dawn? I will brew us some glamour potions to alter our appearance so we can pass as vampires. And I need you to do some research between now and then… For the best methods of how to take out zombies, vampires, and unholy spirits. We will be carrying minimal. So whatever we can use has to fit in our backpacks.” Rising from her chair, she opens the office door, and ushers him into the museum, “I have some things to do before we leave. So, I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

Scandal nodded. "I don't plan on returning, but, I will definitely make the effort to swing by Hobbit town." Scandal shrugged his shoulders, "So long as it ain't an Uldenbraug Tomb, I am fine." Scandal nodded, understanding on the research. "I will see what I can come up with.” With that he moved toward his area of the Guild's offices, mainly his, which still possessed his hand carved desk, and a very extensive library despite there being far more room for books despite the lack of books. "Kelay, tomorrow got it." He would continue research until late that night when he would venture first to south of Xalious, and then towards Cenril before lastly to Kelay where he spent the night at the Sanctum of The Divine. He sat cross legged meditation, listening with his thoughts, waiting for any words. Then he opened his eyes. Dawn was still an hour out but he took his leave and moved to the Kelay Tavern. Once there he paid for a drink and a meal to tide him over, no need to tempt fate and be a hungry dragon. Those who went that way were more likely to berserk and something told him he would need a cool head for the trip. With a few minutes left before the dawn would just open over the hills, he made a final stop from the shop south of the tavern, buying a large backpack, a little extra space never hurt. He then waited for Lana. His thoughts towards the journey. When she showed and she said her greeting he would reply, and then explain. "Undead, are in sense rotting and not rotting, but because they are, they will be highly susceptible to flames, Vampires," he chuckled, and motioned to himself, "Dragons blood, is lethal, if sprayed or ingested, and a vampire is useless with only a skeleton remaining. Spirits are another matter, A well trained mind is best way to prevent a spirit taking possession, or getting your hands on Uldenbraug Celestium. But of course, where would anyone even find that?" He rolled his eyes at that. "Best defense is the best offense, destroy the body that the spirit is tied too and it will disperse." He waited for her answer before they got on the road, and likely acknowledge any thing she learned and about the glamour potions.

The Following Day

The next morning Lanara finds herself standing before the tavern, tapping her foot impatiently, while she nurses a to-go mug of coffee. She had risen bright and early and though her hair was still slightly damp from her bath, she seemed prepared for the journey ahead. Circinus, the mastiff and expert tracker of the Adventurer’s Guild, sits at her heels. The big dog barks in greeting as the dragon meanders along the path, his nose twitching, and his tail thumping against the ground. Lana bends to lift her backpack, shrugs it over her slender shoulders, and greets her brother with a warm smile. “Good morning, Scandal. How are you faring today?” They begin walking to the east, and after a mile or so, they would turn west, to cut to the north, eventually making their way to the land of the undead. The witch listens intently to his words, and nods at the appropriate times. Fire, was always at her disposal, so dealing with the zombies wouldn’t be an issue. The vampires, she was pretty sure Scandal could take care of, as he had the dragon’s blood, breath, and he also had the use of fire to disable them. Lana was certain she read somewhere that they had an aversion to garlic, and a stake through the heart would kill just about anything. Not that she ever tested either measure, though if one were to get close enough, she’d have to resort to severing the head from the vampire’s body. The spirits, however, would be a hassle. It would be a bitch trying to figure out which spirit belong to which body in a graveyard that was teeming with corpses, some of which were buried six feet under! She groans upon hearing this and shakes her head, “Maybe some of my holier-based magic, the power of light, would be useful. We can just hope that we go undetected for most of it.”

Scandal nodded and said, "I am well thank you, did you sleep well?" He agreed with her, "Holy magic might work, light as well, of course you'll have to work that, I can't do much aside from a fire breath illusion, and you know that serves far better to entertain than anything else." As they walked, a cold wind occasionally ripped by as storm clouds gathered. "Weird weather, how odd." As they passed into the forest about a mile or two from the pass to Vailkrin. "How are these glamour potions supposed to work, and did you bring one for the dog?" he asked. "Be odd to have two vampires and a healthy happy dog, rather than one of those blood dogs." He spoke of those underfed skeletons with skin and oversized teeth vampire dogs. As he spoke a cold rain near freezing began to rain, trickles at first then, downpour. It got worse and worse the more they walked. To where Scandal lifted his right wing over Lanara to block the water from soaking her. It chilled him to the bone. "I swear, this feels familiar..." And before he could finish the storm stopped immediately with the sunny rising sun again. He glanced behind him, the storm cloud hung still over the area they had passed, unmoving. Even stranger that cold was gone as well. "You won't be marking this on one my maps would you?" He glanced at her, "Another adventure for another time, but, I wonder." He scratched his head. And would continue with her on the way.

Lanara walks along, the little witch fitting nicely between Scandal and Circinus. The trio was the perfect blend of small, medium, and large, and it brings a smile to her face. “I do have a glamour potion for Circinus, yes. It should give him fangs, and turn him into a black and tan dog, with erect ears, and a stub for a tail.” She’s referring to a modern day version of a Doberman. Her words end as the weather worsens, the rain intensifying, and as Scandal lifts a wing to shield her from the storm, she leans a little closer. Lana loved all of her elements, equally, however, it seems as though this sudden shift in the weather was magic based. It felt foreign. Man-made. And wrong. The mastiff gives a shrill bark and remains rooted in place, as they pass through the area and Lana stops short. “Circinus?” Giving the dog an inquiring glance, she backtracks, and winces when he shakes off all the rainwater from his shaggy coat. There, on the ground, sits a cerulean shard, likely some sort of weather gem. Without hesitation, the witch kneels, lifts the item, and puts it into her backpack. “Scandal, you should research this when we get back to Xalious. It would be a wonderful addition to the museum.” The continue on their journey, and once they get to the outskirts of Vailkrin, the witch would remove the three glamour potions from her sack, and offer one to Scandal, before she pours some into her hand and lets the dog lick it from her palm. Within seconds, Circinus transforms into a vicious beasts, as he barks and foams at the mouth. Meanwhile, Lana gulps her potion, and before long, she’s an emaciated, sickly pale, platinum blonde, with glowing purple eyes, and sporting elongated canines.

Watching his sister pick up the shard and place it into her bag, he watched as if immediately the storm not only stopped but the clouds, the rain, heck even the wind dropped, and the temperature rose to normal, instantly. "Oh yes, I don't think that will be hard to want to study, that." A memory seemed to come to his mind and he shook his head. "Funny I feel like I have seen that before." Watching his sister drink from the glamour potion he too, sucks his back. His form shrinks, his body reconfiguring, and as always glamour or no, pain is present, always present. He winces at it, as his form adjusts and morphs. His figure retain some of muscle, but drastically more attractive to the humanoids, and skin become deathly pale, his hair changing color to dark black and slicked back like someone who took care of their hair. His face morphing and altering until he sported high cheek bones, chiseled jaw, and a pair of lower and upper canine teeth. But his eyes, they weren't red, they were utter ebony, no iris, no white just black. Like a vampire lords. "My sister, hot no matter what she takes or what she wears." The tone, used to imply sarcasm rather than actual love of how she looked, she was after all his sister so it was meant to be a brotherly tease. He flexed his hands, glancing at them, "Why do humans find being an immortal, whitewashed, blood sucking, parasite to be attractive I'll never know, immortality is overrated, and being a slave to instincts is no glorified perk either." His words while snarky were very likely from experience, he was a dragon, he was a slave to certain instincts, and secondly you live three million years, and well immortality is over glorified. Plus he was a black dragon/ red dragon, white washed skin likely wasn't that appealing, of course you never know with... Scandal suddenly eyes the writer, and the writer stops monologuing. "Now then, where is this pass?" Scandal asked Lanara.

The vampiress snarls at her brother as he refers to her as ‘hot’, and she brushes her platinum tresses behind her ears. Gone are the tapered tips, gone are those exotic chocolate hues, and gone is that legendary arse. The faux-vampire that masks Lana’s true form is beautiful, if you were into the undead, though to those that preferred the living, she was nothing more than a sickly pale blonde with fangs. An eye roll is given, as she elbows Scandal, and chuckles at the sarcastic statement. Those that knew the witch, knew she wasn’t overly fond of blood suckers, either! The decaying dog that replaced the look of the mastiff bares his teeth at the pair, before he yips and leads them swiftly to the path. They keep up with the rapid pace, and Lana walks closer to Scandal, lest they become separated in the kingdom of the undead. Halfway up the pass, a wrought-iron fence surrounds the graveyard and they pause, to catch their breath, and to survey the scene. “We have to go over the fence, Scandal. We can’t pick the lock on this gate…” She wouldn’t risk using magic, not now, as their journey was merely beginning. Circinus digs a shallow hole and wiggles through the bars and beneath the fence, eyeing them from the other side, as dirt clings to his faux-fur. Lana doesn’t delay any further, and she shimmies up the bars, and hoists her legs over the top, before dropping onto the ground with a soft thud. Purple hues would lock with the onyx orbs of Scandal, and she’d wait from him to safely land at her side, before they would begin their trek through the graveyard. Hopefully they wouldn’t awaken any spirits.

Scandal felt her elbow but he smiled, for to be taking his comment in jest, was a good thing, it meant at least to him that they were past that ill moment back in Frostmaw. He smiles dreadfully, exposing his fangs and the sharp teeth. Once they came to fence though he frowned. "Gods I hate climbing fences, it never works out for me." He watches her climb up and cross over. And then observes Circinus climb under the fence to otherside. He reaches up the fence, being careful if not more than his normal careful, to cross the fence, no sooner than he is halfway up he hears a metallic creak. Not wanting to find out what caused it he hoists his body up the fence, over the sharp edges, and lands with as much silence as he can muster, turning his head he looked toward the noise noticing the fence had bent under his weight. "I really got to cut down on the cookie dough." He remarked with a mixture of sarcasm and a false sense of care, he wasn't going to cut down on his favorite dessert. If anything it was that added muscle mass, he had put on. Or simply bad making in the fence. He looked at Lana, "I would say ladies first, but you’re just my sister." He poked her in her vampiric ribs with a sense of fun. "On a serious note, though, if the dead awaken I would rather them attack me first." He said motioning to graveyards, and taking the lead if she let him.

This wasn’t Lana’s first rodeo. She had traipsed through many graveyards in her younger days, and it was rumored that she went grave robbing with Rinn a few years back. The best place to get what you needed for a powerful spell was the graveyard, as the dead didn’t seem to mind. At least not –all- the time. There were still times when Lana bit off more than she could chew, and it ended horribly, but for all intents and purposes, she was generally comfortable amidst the deceased. At one point she had lived on the Otherside, and been buried six feet under! A deep fog settles over the area, and a feeling of dread ensues, as the damp ground seems as though it wants to swallow them. Peering over her shoulder with those glowing purple eyes, the faux-vampiress scowls at her brother, “I am –still- a lady! Whether I’m your sibling or not, I still have female parts… Though, I prefer my natural state. This undead business is for the birds.” Scandal, at least, seemed to pass of the vampire affliction with ease, though his interior dragon form was likely what had dented the fence. A glamour spell could only do so much. As he states that he would like to lead her the rest of the way, Lana can’t help but chuckle, “I’d prefer you getting attacked before me, too.” This is said in a joking manner, as she didn’t want anyone to get hurt, least of all her brother. Hanging back a good foot or so, she walks beside their zombie tracking dog, and keeps her gaze glued to the vampire’s back. Something was –very- off in this graveyard, and she finds that she keeps glancing to her left and right, as though expecting something to jump out.

Scandal looked around the graveyard noting its uneasy stillness the he moved softly though because the glamour spell may have provided him the appearance of shoes he still felt like he was stepping around in bare feet. The feeling of gods knows what was not the most pleasant of things to step in, he was happy for the fog, he didn't want to know what he was stepping in, much less wanting to guess. "More disgusting than scary in my opinion, that Wax Works in Cenril, now that’s scary." As he finished speaking he heard a moaning reply almost like ‘indeed’. "Great, even the dead agree," He said shaking his head. He turned a bit at Lanara but kept walking, "Sister or not I never said anything about you not having lady parts, egads sis, what’s on your brain?" He said with a chuckle.

Lanara walks along, bones and branches crushing beneath her boots, as she maintains a steady pace. Scandal’s gait is uneven, and she can tell that he’s not used to walking as though he were in human form, so her lips upturn in a grin. “What’s on my brain is how I managed to walk the catwalk as a model… And you can’t even seem to manage prowling as a vampire.” Their chuckles combine, loud enough to wake the dead, and as the ‘indeed’ is whispered, Lana twists and turns to see the source of the moaning. Not more than four feet behind the vampiress, a glimmering shadow crawls along the ground, making scuffling sounds as it drags nearer and nearer. Was it a woman? A man? A ghost? Uncertain, Lana stops short and those piercing purple hues take in their new guest. Had they woken this spirit up with their giggling and traipsing through the graveyard? As she’s inspecting the being, a trio of bats screech and dip low, nearly getting caught in her platinum locks. “Scandal! DUCK!” Falling to the ground, she winces as she comes face to face with a vampire, who just happens to be napping in an open casket. His eyes open, crimson, and he hungrily eyes the beauty that literally fell into his waiting arms. The maw opens, revealing two elongated canines, and the woman unleashes a shrill scream when she realizes that she can’t escape his powerful grasp.

Scandal laughter was cut short by the source of the moaning, and then the bats. Having not gotten the idea to drop as the bats collided with his form, cutting through the glamour potion, but of course falling to the ground in heaps as their wings broke against his scales. The dragon irritated looks down as his sister is in mid-scream as the vampire she had fallen against prepares to make a snack of her. Fast as he could he shoves his hand into the path of the vampires bite, causing the vampire to gasp as he realizes what he was sucking on. Smoke erupting from the vampire’s mouth, Scandal uses his other hand to pull Lana until realizing the vampire still has a death grip on his sister. Letting her go a second, he moves his mouth down to vampires arms and bites through them, one at a time, before yanking Lana away and then pulling his arm out of the vampires mouth, as the vampires unable to scream as its lungs are dissolved airways collapses into ash and bloody fleshing oozing mass as the dragon blood dissolves its form away. Spitting the accursed blood out of his mouth he breaks the hands of the vampires to release its grip on Lana, and then pulls her into a hug. "Are you alright?" Trying to comfort her, as that was likely a scary situation.

Lanara isn’t one to scare so easily, but she totally believes she is going to be a goner, as the vampire’s fangs come dangerously close to her throat. She kicks, she punches, and she screams, all to no avail. Though she may have resembled a vampiric thrall, it’s only a glamour spell, and when lying horizontal over an incredibly strong undead, a petite elf is pretty much helpless. Thankfully, her brother springs into action and saves the day, as the stench of burning flesh fills the graveyard. Lana is gagging as blood and pus ooze, only to form a disgusting puddle at the base of the coffin. It all happens in the blink of an eye, and she lifts those eerily glowing purple hues to lock onto Scandal’s glamoured face, her expression one of concern. “Thank you… I really didn’t want to be turned. Or killed. That was awful.” Several tears spring forth and spill onto her sickly pale cheeks, and she brushes back those platinum locks from her face. Slender arms coil around Scandal’s middle, as much as she’s able to; as she’s hugging a dragon, and they continue on their way, arm in arm. It’s safer this way, and she’s horrified by what had just transpired. The rest of their journey through the area is mostly peaceful, aside from seeing the occasional grave robber, lingering spirits, and a few canines gnawing on bones of the recently deceased. Finally, the sun comes up, the dreary atmosphere lightens, and the two lock eyes. “The blood fountain isn’t much further… We just have to slip through the market and head there. One of us should be a distraction while the other works on draining the blood from the fountain and snatching the lotus. Do you want to be the distraction or the drainer?”

Scandal cared for his sister, and protecting her had been a pleasure. However her hug meant more to him than her words. He's that kind of hugging person. "I can believe it, maybe you ought to find a good alchemist, maybe we could infuse my blood with yours for vampire prevention." He didn't know whether that was possible, but then again if it was even if she didn't want it maybe it could be done? As the sun rises he continues with her until she stops, and locks eyes with him. "It would be best that you drew the blood, I have no more glamour potion so, I might as well be the distraction. You have any ideas on how I should go about it?"

Lanara had never known a glamour potion to fade that quickly, as she knew the effects on herself and Circinus were sure to last at least a few more hours. Perhaps it was the dragon blood in Scandal that was reversing the effects? Already she was spying his scales glimmering through the illusion, and she sighs. She did –not- want to be the one to drain the fountain, but his words make the most sense. Plus, she’d have a zombie dog to guard her from any that managed to get too close. The market is busy at this hour, and those purple hues flick from one customer to the next, each person selling their waves, and of course the slaves that were contained in a filthy pen, as though they were nothing more than overpriced cattle. An idea strikes and she gently nudges Scandal in the ribs, her pointer finger directing his gaze to the fence, “Can you bust down that fence? Guide the slaves to safety? They will likely think you are protesting the sale of flesh… Urge them all to fight back, or scatter in different directions… Make mayhem in the market, Brother. While you do that… I will sprint over there, to the fountain… Just be careful.”

Scandal foiled her point and gave a nod. "I will see what I can do." He said. As soon as he split from Lana, he moved toward the fence avoiding sight for a second of the undead and vampires, until he was within range of the fence. He almost gagged at the smell, emanating from the pens. ‘Do vampires have no health codes with their food?’ He wondered to himself. Coming up from behind the fence he pried open a stall revealing several slaves many of whom were barely even dressed. With his glamour illusion totally gone, his form returning to normal, he said, "Psst, you wanna be free, right?" Several of them stared wide eyed at him. Then one of them raised his voice. "Help we're being Stolen!" Scandal turned his head from the fence and sighed, "Well, when you need to be loud..." Grabbing the iron fence he pulled it apart like tissue paper and began crushing it into a ball. Three undead thralls stormed the corner and Scandal took aim and through the heavy ball, which upon impact sent both flesh and bones everywhere. Immediately this caused a great deal of commotion and the crowd in the market place and near the fountain quickly moved to stop the ‘enraged’ dragon. Four mummies unraveled their binding being used to tie up the loose ends of several vampires who struggled against their bindings, which the bindings themselves tried untangling themselves. A very large stone gargoyle ran towards Scandal in an attempt to stop him. Raising his fist to punch he struck the stone brute in the chest punching right through and sending its chest into a party of undead behind it. Soon a larger crowd was gathering. An announcer on the market place podium screaming, "He who takes down the dragon shall have 50,000 gold." In response almost the entire crowd charged while yet another announcer began, "Place your bets here, place your bets here, crowd versus dragon. Place your bets here." And then yet again another one screaming, "Take him alive he will be the prized slave of the market." Annoyed Scandal, let out a roar, and punched the ground. Cobblestones flew upward smacking into the heads of the crowd, as the ground shook. Those not affected by the flying cobblestones were immediately thrown to the ground, blood spewed from the ears of the crowd as the sound blast sent some flying and others to the ground screaming at the sudden pain in their ears. Scandal looked back up his eyes full of annoyance. Then his eyes hastily looked back at the ground where he struck as the tremors continued and the rock began to fall in to the earth. "Time to go." He said to the slaves pointing but none of them really noticing as they were holding their ears in pain. He towards the fountain and leapt over as more of the ground around the area of his punch began to cave into the earth. "We need to go," he said ready to pick her up and run if need be.

Lanara and Circinus weave through the shoppers of the market, entirely unseen by the other undead. Most assume the faux-vampiress and her zombie dog were perusing the wares, and Lana makes a point to lift an elixir at a stall, and give it a firm shake. Her violet hues shimmer in appreciation as she dips her hand into her cleavage and purchases the item. It holds no value to her, and she’s pretty sure it’s some ancient type of blood wine, but its all part of the façade of buying an item at the market and blending in with the crowd. It works, she seems nothing more than a pretty blonde making a purchase, and it’s at that moment that Scandal tears apart the fence, frees the slaves, and starts a riot. Well, she –did- ask him to cause a scene! The corner of her mouth pulls up in an awkward half-smile, though there’s little time to admire his skills for creating a diversion, as she has her own part of the plan to fulfill. Circinus sniffs at the air, yips once, and he leads the woman through a back alley, and around the opposite side of the famous fountain, where there would be a lesser chance of them being seen. “Ugh. This is –so- gross!” Grimacing, she bends over the side, and dips her hand into the crimson gore, up to her elbows. Pulling the plug from the base, the blood begins to slowly ooze through the circular opening, as the fountain is in the process of being drained. At the bottom, soaking up the plasma, sits several of the desired blood lotus. Carefully, Lana extracts the flowers, which are then inserted into her oversized satchel. She’s covered in blood up to both elbows, and her boots are covered over the ankle, but still, she works quickly. The earth shakes, she nearly tumbles headfirst into the empty fountain, and that’s when one of the announcer’s notices something is amiss and bellows, “The Dragon has a Vampiress accomplice! We’re raising the stakes to one hundred thousand gold to whoever brings me both of their heads!” Lana’s head snaps up, as she’s literally caught red handed, and she scowls at Scandal as he lifts her into his arms, and they prepare to make their grand escape. “Thank Goddess I still have my glamour potion in my system!”

"Yes, Lucky you." Scandal said running and carrying his sister. He grabbed Circinus with his tail, wrapping around the frail dog's middle, and darting forward, "Fastest way out of Vailkrin, instructions please." He asked as he was running with the crowd almost 300 feet behind him, thank the gods for a dragon sprint, helps when you want to outrun vampires, even if it’s only a smidge faster. The announcer voiced crowed again, as Scandal darted past, using his arm to take out the supports to the announcer’s platform, "I am raising the stakes to one...GAHHHH!!!!" The announcer interrupted as the stand collapsed on top of him. He carried her in a way that was respectful, not like a sack of potatoes or anything. Whichever way Lanara directed him, he ran. "Know any spells, to distract them, or hide us, lemme know, and draw if you must, while I run." He ducked as one vampire emerged from the shadows and launched himself, only to fall short as he darted past. "Gods I pray I don't have to make an exit as a dragon."

Lanara peers over Scandal’s shoulder, an amused expression on her face, as her eyes gleefully shine with mischief. This was actually fun! Despite the fact that she was covered in gore, glamoured as a vampiress, her beloved dog was in zombie form, and her brother had a bounty on his head, this was nothing more than a regular day for the witch! Trouble always seemed to find its way to Lana’s doorstep, and Goddess forbid one thing happen correctly regarding the gathering of ingredients for Scandal’s enchantment of the talisman. Thankfully, they’d only need one final item, before Taly and Lana could work their magic! “To the right, down the next alley, and then a left! There’s a fence that we can jump, and a short walk will bring us to Larket.” The dragon darts this way and that, sending the announcer sprawled out in the street, and Lana sticks her tongue out at him as they pass by. The fence nears, Scandal lowers the witch from his arms so that she can safely climb the fence on her own, and Circinus burrows beneath the metal grating with ease. The trio emerges on the other side, before they sprint towards the next city, eager to get to safety. The vampires turn down the alley, see that they’ve vanished and call off their chase. It would be a very long time before they ran into the likes of the dragon and the witch again, and even if they had… The glamour spell gave them enough of a disguise. “We did it! Three down, one to go!”